30 January 2016
Mohammad Bin Faris Music Band’s Concert at Cairo International Book Fair With Bahrain as Guest of Honour
Mohammad Bin Faris Music Band performed an amazing traditional music concert on 30 January 2016 as part of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s participation as the Guest of Honour in the 47th Cairo International Book Fair. The Bahraini band mesmerized the audience with a selection of traditional songs, transcending time and space and reflecting the brighter image of a country embracing the world. Bahraini music was the center of attention and was appreciated by the visitors who travelled into an ancient rich history through rhythms and refined music compositions.
The Mohammad Bin Faris Music Band concert is the third event organized by BACA as part of Bahrain’s cultural program that will continue until 9 February 2016. Bahrain’s participation includes cultural and artistic activities as well as the displaying of documentaries on Bahrain’s history. Bahrain is this year’s guest of honour and it will be the focus of a series of seminars, lectures, poetry readings and folk performances. Music concerts by Mohammad Bin Faris Music Band will highlight the historical and genuine Bahraini music, while evenings of poetry will feature Bahraini poet Hassan Kamal and poet Ibrahim Bu Hindi.
The book fair attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy a series of lectures presented by Bahrain journalist and writer, Sawsan Al-Shaer on “Bahrain: a Unique Cultural Exception in the Gulf”, while Dr. Abdullah al-Madani will speak about a “Vivid Lecture Study on Fijiri Art”, in relation to artist Jassim Al-Harban. Fine art icon, Balqees Fakhro’s lecture on “Cultural Cooperation Between Egypt and Bahrain and the Effects of the Fine Arts Movement” will shed light on mutual art movements and trends. Bahrain’s cultural program also involves documentary films showcasing Bahrain’s ancient history and civilizations with the movie “Sleeping Tree” directed by Mohammad Bu Ali. The participation of Bahraini writers and intellectuals will be a great addition to the fair.
The 47th edition of the Cairo International Book Fair opened Wednesday under the theme of “Culture in Confrontation” and is scheduled to conclude on February 10. The fair is usually a widely visited event and according to the Egyptian State Information Service, up to 850 publishers will participate, including 50 foreigners, 250 Arab and 550 Egyptian publishers.
Gamal Al-Ghitani, a renowned Egyptian novelist and journalist who passed away in October last year, will be the fair's person of the year. He published over 50 books including novels and poetry, and is best known for his novel Rama wal Tinin (Rama and the Dragon) and his short story collection Hitan Aliya (High Walls). He was also one of the theorists of modern Arabic literature.
No less than 34 countries are expected to participate, including Arab and African states such as Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Oman, Palestine, Jordan, Libya, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Algeria, Iraq, Morocco, Syria, Lebanon, Qatar and Eritrea. In addition, Italy, Russia, Azerbaijan, India, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Greece, China, Kazakhstan and Paraguay will be represented at the fair where around 50 cultural events for children and adults will be presented.
